UNITED NATIONS
PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release
United Nations Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide welcomes the
adoption of the International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of
the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime.
(New York, 14 September 2015) The United Nations Special Adviser on the Prevention
of Genocide, Adama Dieng, welcomed the adoption last Friday by consensus of the
General Assembly resolution establishing 9 December as the International Day of
Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the
Prevention of this Crime.
The resolution approved, with 84 co-sponsors, was a direct response to a
recommendation by the Human Rights Council in resolution 28/34, adopted on 7 April
2015. This international day is intended to commemorate and honour the victims of the
crime of genocide around the world and to raise awareness of the Convention on the
Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide and its role in protecting
populations from future genocides.
“Genocide represents the very worst of humanity. No human being should experience
such a terrible crime,” the Special Adviser said. “Unfortunately, both the past and present
are haunted by many instances in which people – individuals and communities - have
been persecuted simply because of their identity, because of who they are.”
“Remembering the events of the past and paying tribute to those who perished should
strengthen our resolve to prevent such events from ever happening again. We have a
collective responsibility to prevent genocide – and by commemorating the victims of the
crime of genocide, we can dignify them and show that we are not indifferent, that we care
about what happened to them and will never forget them,” concluded the Special
Adviser.
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For media queries please contact:
Claudia Diaz, Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect
http://www.un.org/en/preventgenocide/adviser/
Phone: +1 917-367-2061; Email: [email protected]
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